HTTP/2 and YouTube Kids are coming, your Amazon orders are coming more quickly and Facebook Product Ads are already here.
HTTP gets upgrade after 15 years
HTTP, the internet protocol that is the foundation of data communication across the World Wide Web, is set to get an upgrade.
The Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG) approved the new HTTP/2 protocol which, when implemented, should speed up internet browsing, making pages load quicker and improving encryption systems.
The protocol is based on a Google technology called SPDY, and Google will switch to HTTP/2 in its Chrome browser.
Facebook takes on Google with product ads
Facebook has launched a competitor to Google’s Shopping advertising service, allowing marketers to show users some or all of their product catalogues.
The roll-out of the service sees Facebook go head-to-head with one of Google’s most successful ventures in recent years. Originally called product-listing ads, Google started offering the ads that included images and pricing information, in an effort to compete with Amazon.
Facebook said that it would be displaying product ads as part of remarketing campaigns (if a user had previously visited an advertiser’s site) and based on their stated interests.
Facebook has also made a statement on its policy on reporting ad impressions, claiming that advertisers should only be focused on ads that are actually seen by audiences.
In a blog post entitled “The Value of Viewed Impressions”, Facebook set out its position that only ads that are actually seen by human eyes are actually considered to be a success. It maintains that it only considers “viewed impressions” should be reported on, differentiating itself from other ad networks, which report based on “served impressions”.
“Served impressions” report when an advertisement has been successfully served, even if the ad has not been seen. For example, the ad may have been served at the bottom of a web page. “Viewed impressions” only report when the ad is visible on screen.
YouTube launches children’s app…
YouTube has announced that it will be launching a dedicated children’s application next week, in an attempt to give parents more control over the content that their children see.
The app, which will be separate to the main YouTube service, will include parental controls and restrictions on the uploading of content. It will initially be available in the US, but will come to the UK later in the year.
The new app has been welcomed by the children’s charity, NSPCC.
… whilst introducing new policies on video branding
Meanwhile, YouTube has tightened its policy on branding within videos to clamp down on video creators who work directly with brands.
YouTube has amended its ad policies to block “graphical title cards” from sponsors aiming to promote their brands and products on YouTube channels. It means that video overlays of brand logos are no longer permitted, unless the sponsor pays Google to advertise on that channel.
Google claims that the move is designed to protect users from the increase in branded and advertising content.
Amazon launches one-hour delivery service in New York
If you are reading this in Manhattan, you can now receive your Amazon.com deliveries within one hour.
Amazon has this week expanded a trial to include all of Manhattan Island in its one hour delivery service area, meaning that ‘Prime Now’ subscribers can receive their products to their door in less than 60 minutes.
At present, the service only covers “essential” household goods, such as shampoo and cleaning products, but the service is likely to expand to other products if successful.
